The NOMAD LitMag launches "Breakthroughs" issue tonight in Salt Lake City

Two of my stories are in the new issue. There's a 
sampler tonight at the Sweet Library in SLC. Not
really in my neighborhood anymore but check it
out, you readers around The Great Salt Lake. Some of
us far-flung writers will be part of a Zoom reading
coming in May.

The choice is clear for us Rogue Catholics

Fallen-away Catholics like me have a choice to make.

Catholic or not? Am I on the side of the outspoken Roman Catholic Pope Leo XIV or am I not? And, if I am, should I not be allied with the Catholic Church and what it stands for, even though I oppose its policies on abortion, women’s rights, gay rights, and its awful record of child abuse. I have long criticized the Catholic Church’s alliance with the Religious Right, which I’ve always called a pact with the devil.

But Pope Leo of Chicago is socking it to Donald Trump, the creepiest human to ever be elected U.S. president.  We know the agenda of the Religious Right as we’ve seen the movement in action all our adult lives. The underlying precept of the RR is hatred of Catholics. We worship false gods: saints, martyrs, The Holy Ghost, and the pope. We used to worship in a foreign tongue, Latin, and we think that a cracker and a bit of wine are the body and blood of Christ. We are demon Papists!

Meanwhile, the Christonationalists of the RR bows down to images of Trump and Christ together, best buds, not the holy trinity but the holy duo. We laugh. They nod and say amen. Let me tell you this, brothers and sisters. If you don’t know hypocrisy when you see it, you weren’t raised as an Irish-Catholic. I saw hypocrisy. What I really mean is irony. What I mean is that Trump, Vance, Hegseth, and irony of ironies, a Kennedy, are all humorless monsters. They are Nazis without the spiffy uniforms. Trump wouldn’t know humor if it bit him in the ass. He demolishes the White House. He plans to build the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile without any triomphe to his name. Have you seen the artist renderings of this monstrosity? Looks like he summoned Herr Speer from Hell.

I have to find a leader of stature who is not a nincompoop. I choose Pope Leo. Play ball! But please not the White Sox variety. Did you see how they surrendered to the Rays on Thursday? A 55-pitch ninth inning? Pope Leo, after you’ve vanquished Trump, the Sox need your blessings.

For another look at this topic, go to Matt Lewis's Substack article 

Tribute to my brother Tommy, Daytona Paddle Out

On Saturday, April 4, our family held a Paddle Out for my brother Tommy. As the eldest of nine brothers and sisters, and a writer, I was selected to be the speaker. I will let myself do the talking. In case you're wondering, I need assistance to move around this earth. A spinal injury demands it. Cruising the beach with a walker would not have been my idea of a good time back in my surfing heyday in the 1960s and '70s. But the alternative is not my idea of a Good time in 2026. Life is for living. Surf's up, Tommy! P.S.: Watching on YouTube carries various risks in this era of unfettered blathering. I am a practitioner of this art. Viewer beware! 

Get Out Now!

Remembrance: Paddle Out for Tommy Shay, Daytona Beach

Family members and friends paddle out and scatter ashes for Tommy Shay at Hartford Avenue approach in Daytona Beach. April 4, 2026. Photo by Robert Hougham.

Reminder: Paddle Out for my brother Tommy Shay set for April 4

A reminder for my brother Tommy Shay's Paddle Out this Saturday, April 4:

Join us at the Hartford Approach in Daytona Beach at 1:00 PM as we come together to celebrate Tommy’s life.

Bring your board, share some stories, and help us send him off the way he would’ve loved — surrounded by friends, family, and the ocean.

If you can, wear Tommy’s favorite color red in his honor.

Open house to follow at the Martinez home.

We’d love to see everyone down by the sea.

Way back when: My son Kevin with Uncle Tommy
on Daytona Beach.

Ormond Beach No Kings Day Rally brings out the crowds and the creativity

Great crowd of concerned citizens at this morning's No Kings Day Rally at the Grenada Bridge in Ormond Beach, Florida. Many, like me, veterans of previous protests, others just concerned veterans. I parked my scooter next to Vietnam combat vet in a walker who doesn't support whatever this war is we are raging in Iran and vicinity. He grew up in Ormond and knew some of my b-ball teammates from Father Lopez High School (Go Green Wave!). Met a woman my age who, late at night, assembled her big sign held up by a mop handle. She moved recently from Long Island. "Left my blue state to come here." People with their dogs and kids and grandkids. They felt the need to be here on this sunny Saturday. I felt privileged to be in their company. A few photos below by Kevin Shay.

 

That's me with the cool compression socks. The man
behind me, a Navy vet (didn't get his name), lent me his wife's sign.